企業(yè)形象是員工以外的社會公眾對企業(yè)的認識,是企業(yè)的外部形象。企業(yè)形象通常是由視覺品牌(visual brand)、交流溝通和企業(yè)行為構(gòu)成。改變已建立的企業(yè)形象需要投入大量的努力和時間,但非常值得(It's well worth it)。
坦誠
如果公司犯了什么錯,就應當坦然承認。對于公眾背離企業(yè)的原因不要視而不見。人們總是欣賞誠實和謙遜(honesty and humility),唾棄虛偽和怯懦(hypocrisy and cowardice)。指定專人負責維護企業(yè)形象,留意(keep an eye on)有關(guān)企業(yè)形象的所有相關(guān)細節(jié)。
⊙It was an error in judgment.在這一點上我們有失公允。
⊙We have to admit we've been a little outdated.我們不得不承認我們有一些落伍。
⊙To be honest, we messed up.We have regrets.
坦率地說,我們的管理有些混亂,我們對此深表悔意。
⊙If we could go back, we'd do some things differently.如果能夠重新來過,我們愿意做很多的改變。
⊙You're in charge of managing corporate identity.你來負責管理公司的形象。
使命宣言(mission statement)
企業(yè)使命的陳述不僅僅是幾句口號,而是對企業(yè)形象和企業(yè)組織哲學(organizational philosophy)的總體概括??傊髽I(yè)使命要說明企業(yè)是干什么的和將要干什么。使命宣言應當簡明(concise)、清晰(clear)、上口(catchy)、新穎(fresh),長度控制在幾句話之內(nèi)。
⊙The impression we give people is……我們給人們的印象是……
⊙People tend to see us as……
人們常常視我們?yōu)椤?
⊙The image we want to portray is……我們要塑造的形象是……
⊙We'd like to emphasize……我們要重點強調(diào)……
⊙We're all about……
我們主要致力于……
⊙Our mission is to……我們的任務是……
⊙We seek to provide quality service while maintaining high value product options. We focus on providing a positive experience for our customers and clients.
我們致力于提供高品質(zhì)服務和高附加值產(chǎn)品。我們專注于向客戶和消費者提供積極樂觀的體驗。
視覺更新(visual update)
更新不是要改變公司的名字、標志(logo)或口號(slogan),而是使它更加新穎(freshen it up)。比方說調(diào)整標志的配色方案、簡化線條、更新公司的網(wǎng)頁、更換名片設(shè)計等??傊?,是在原有基礎(chǔ)上調(diào)整而不是改頭換面。
⊙Our visual branding needs some work.
在可視性品牌方面我們需要做一些工作。
⊙Let's update some of our old VI materials.讓我們更新一些我們舊的視覺識別材料。
⊙I like the changes we've made to our visual branding.我很喜歡我們在視覺品牌上的更改。
⊙Our new logo is a fresher, more energetic representation of our company.我們新的標志更加新穎,更能代表公司的活力。
⊙After our VI makeover, we've seen an increase in sales of about 20%!在視覺識別更新后,我們已經(jīng)看到營業(yè)額增長了20%。
向公眾事業(yè)伸出援助之手(reach out to the community)
投身公益事業(yè)是更新企業(yè)形象的最好方式之一,包括為公眾提供免費產(chǎn)品和免費服務、幫助弱勢群體、設(shè)立助學金、參加環(huán)保事業(yè)等。
A:What contributions does Willymart make to the community?
B:We sponsor a scholarship for local disadvantaged children, we've donated money to fund research in curing childhood leukemia, and we regularly sponsor work training programs to help the homeless.
A:Willymart都對社區(qū)做了哪些貢獻?
B:我們向當?shù)氐娜鮿輧和澲剬W金、捐錢給兒童白血病研究,而且我們經(jīng)常給無家可歸的人提供工作培訓。
交流(communication)
開創(chuàng)公司博客(company blog)并且時常更新內(nèi)容(update),通過新聞媒體報道公司的動態(tài)。
⊙We need to send out another press release about our community outreach.
Molly, can you get that done today?
我們需要發(fā)送另外一份有關(guān)公司援助社區(qū)的新聞稿。Molly,你能今天做好嗎?
⊙Take a look at our community newsletter.
看一下我們社區(qū)的通訊。
⊙Can you write an update on the blog about the changes to our mission statement?
你能否更新博客發(fā)表有關(guān)我們調(diào)整使命的聲明?
改變
視覺品牌的完善只是外在的改變,實質(zhì)性的改變需要通過有意義的(significant)內(nèi)部改革來證明(prove it)。比如迅速并毫無顧忌地(swiftly and without mercy)擯棄與現(xiàn)行使命不相符的行為,并通過媒體向公眾宣告。
⊙In accordance with public response, we have changed company policy on……鑒于公眾的反應,我們在……調(diào)整公司的政策。
⊙We will no longer……
我們再也不……
⊙Changes are in order.變革勢在必行。
總結(jié)
要從里到外改變公眾對公司的印象,就是把公司新的一面利用一切機會來展現(xiàn)給公眾。在“新”上做文章,可以是更新穎的標志,更有創(chuàng)意的視覺識別材料,更能觸動人的使命宣言,更吸引人的博客,等等。另外加強對公益事業(yè)的投入,這絕不是浪費時間和財力,群眾一定會感覺到你們的恩惠和善意的,也就是投我以桃,報之以李。
Words 單詞表
community社團,社區(qū)
controversy爭議
fund資助,籌款
corporate公司
disadvantaged貧窮的,弱勢的
donate捐贈
feedback反饋
involvement參與,介入
logo標志
newsletter通訊
community outreach社區(qū)服務
outdated過時的,不流行的
partner伙伴,合伙人
regional地區(qū)的,局部的
sponsor贊助
update更新,修正
VI(visual identity)視覺識別
visual視覺的,形象的
Phrases 短語表
be upfront about some mistakes坦白承認錯誤
give an impression給人留下印象
good neighbor好鄰居
in charge of主管,負責
local level地方層面
makeover新造型,改頭換面
mission statement企業(yè)宣言,使命宣言
phenomenal success驚人的成功/成就
press release新聞稿,新聞公告
public response公眾反應,公眾反響
the public公眾
portray an image塑造形象
public approval公眾的認同
tend to趨向,漸漸
be in order勢在必行
實景對話1
A:Our sales are down. Public approval rating of our corporate image is down.
According to marketing research the impression we give people is of a cold, distant corporation. People tend to see us as too big, too removed, and not caring.I think changes are in order.
B:Obviously, the image we want to portray is that of a good neighbor, a community partner. We want people to see us as a friend to thecommunity and a friend to families.In that regard, our visual branding needs some work.We have to admit we've been a little outdated.
A:Well, let's update some of our old VI materials. That's not too hard to do.
But I'm afraid that's not going to be enough. I think we need someone to manage our image with the public.I'd like to assign you to the job.Ding Lan, You're in charge of managing corporate identity.
C:Okay, I think I can handle that. If I may, I'd like to suggest that we make some changes to our mission statement and our company policy. We need to admit our mistakes and let the public know we've changed.
A:Okay, we can send out a press release.“In accordance with public response, we have changed our company policy on community involvement. We will no longer employ regional managers, but will bring our management to the local level.”O(jiān)h, Ding Lan, can you also write an update on the blog about these changes?
A:我們的銷售額下降了。公眾對我們企業(yè)的認可度也在降低。根據(jù)市場調(diào)研,我們給人們的形象是一家冷漠、遙不可及的企業(yè)。公眾認為我們太大、太疏遠而不夠有親和力。我覺得革新勢在必行。
B:很顯然,我們想塑造的形象是一個親鄰,一個社區(qū)搭檔。我們希望人們把我們看作是社區(qū)里的一個朋友,一個家庭的好友。就此而言,我們在視覺品牌上需要做一些工作。我們得承認我們是有些落伍了。
A:好的,我們更新一下我們原來的視覺識別材料,那不太難做。但是我擔心這還不夠,我想我們需要有人來經(jīng)營我們的公眾形象。丁蘭,我想任命你來做這個工作。你來負責管理我們企業(yè)的形象。
C:好的,我想我可以應付。如果可以,我想建議我們在企業(yè)使命和我們公司的政策上做些調(diào)整。我們得承認我們的錯誤并讓公眾知道我們已經(jīng)改變了。
A:好的,我們可以發(fā)一篇新聞稿:“根據(jù)市民的反應,我公司現(xiàn)已調(diào)整社區(qū)服務的相關(guān)政策。我們將不再聘用區(qū)域經(jīng)理,而是將我們的管理調(diào)整到地方一級。”哦,丁蘭,你能不能更新博客來公布這些調(diào)整?
實景對話2
A:What's the feedback on the work we've done to improve our image?
B:After our VI makeover, we've seen an increase in sales of about 20%!
Our new logo is a fresher, more energetic representation of our company.
A:That's phenomenal success.How'd we manage that?
B:One, of course, is updating our VI. We also made an effort to be upfront about some mistakes we'd made.
A:Like what?
B:Here, take a look at the company newsletter.“To be honest, we messed up. We have regrets.Layoffs on the local level while executives got bonuses were an error in judgment.”
A:Goodness, that's coming right out and saying we were wrong!
B:Exactly. I think people responded well to our honesty.We also changed our mission statement. Our mission statement now reads,“We seek to provide quality service while maintaining high value product options.We will ensure that company employees on every level are valued.”
A:That last part is new. Sounds like a response to the controversy that got all this started in the first place.
B:Yep. And one last thing we've done is to focus more on community programs.
A:What contributions does Willymart make to the community?
B:We sponsor a scholarship for local disadvantaged children, we've donated money to fund research in curing childhood leukemia, and we regularly sponsor work training programs to help the homeless.
A:我們改善形象的工作有什么反饋?
B:在我們更新了視覺識別后,銷售額增加了20%。我們的新標志不僅新穎,而且更能體現(xiàn)公司的活力。
A:真是個巨大的成就。我們是如何取得的?
B:首先,我們更新了視覺標志。此外,我們還坦白承認所犯的錯誤。
A:比方說?
B:看公司通訊:“坦率地說,我們管理有些混亂。我們深表悔意。我們在解雇基層員工的同時給高級雇員發(fā)獎金,這有失公允?!?
A:天啊,就那么直白地認錯!
B:當然。公眾對我們的坦誠反應良好。我們也改變了公司的使命宣言,現(xiàn)在是這樣的:“我們致力于提供高品質(zhì)服務和高附加值產(chǎn)品。我們確保每個級別的員工得到重視?!?
A:最后這一部分是新的。聽上去是對最初引發(fā)的爭議的回應。
B:沒錯。我們最后做的事情就是關(guān)注社區(qū)項目。
A:Willymart都對社區(qū)做了哪些貢獻?
B:我們向當?shù)氐娜鮿輧和澲剬W金、捐錢給兒童白血病研究,而且我們經(jīng)常給無家可歸的人提供工作培訓。